Category: Anglican Communion

The Scotsman has an interesting article on an evangelical American Bishop today. It also explores some of the relationship between the Scottish Episcopal Church and The Episcopal Church in the States.

You might need to read the companion article in The Times to understand just how evangelical this bishop is.

Thanks to Thinking Anglicans for pointing them out.

Those of you who are familiar with the dynamics of SEC synod may find it interesting to watch a bit of the Canadian General Synod. What strikes me is how calm it all feels, even though (as I type) they are debating same-sex blessings. I have heard one person sound nervous, one person sound confused, but most people seem to be presenting their arguments calmly and clearly. I wonder if it’s ‘cultural difference’, better procedure, or a sort of graciousness that gets lost in the family tensions in our tiny church.

Addendum: It’s getting really radical now. They are praying before taking a vote. Oh what we could learn.

…and there has been a splendid slip of the tongue from the chair: ‘in the order of laity, those opposed to the revolution… rev.. res…resolution please stand.’

10.19pm — The motion to authorize same sex blessing failed. [house of laity: 78 in favour, 59 opposed. house of clergy: 63 in favour, 53 opposed. order of bishops: 19 in favour, 21 opposed.]

There is the rather sad news today that the Archbishop of Canterbury has chosen not to invite all bishops to the next Lambeth conference — at least not yet.

The Anglican Communion Office is being cagey: only ‘the first’ 800 invitations have been sent; the archbishop reserves the right to withhold or withdraw an invitation to any bishop ‘whose appointment, actions or manner of life have caused exceptionally serious division or scandal within the Communion’; and it seems there are a few invitations which may or may not be forthcoming, depending on what advice +Williams receives.

I cannot see how this helps anyone.

We say that the only way forward is to listen and respect each other as we seek a common mind, or learn to live with difference. But if the most controversial voices are silenced, there can be no honest conversation.

I do not envy any bishop who must choose whether to accept an invitation to Lambeth knowing that some of his or her colleagues have been excluded.

I do not know how we can proclaim good news to the poor, the oppressed and the marginalized if we are willing to marginalize our own.

+Williams’ task is almost impossible. There is much that I respect in him as a person, as a theologian and as an archbishop. But I think he has got this one wrong.

New York Times article

A Statement from Gene Robinson

Comments from The Living Church on Martin Minns

Thinking Anglicans Links
(includes Anglican Communion Statements)